Sample delicious eats at Primavera's in Linden, New Jersey, photographed on Wednesday, June 4, 2025.Karim Shamsi-BAsha
You see a lot of Italian restaurants with “Primavera” in the name. Did you ever wonder what that word means?
I did! It means spring. A spring dish in particular: Pasta primavera. This Italian mainstay is pasta with loads of vegetables like asparagus, tomatoes, peas, squash and zucchini. Then, you add pecorino cheese and your choice of herbs and spices. I like basil and tarragon, and a few red pepper flakes for a tiny kick.
I’ve had this dish many times with various ingredients, and it’s always delicious. But recently, I was in Linden, and I stopped by Primavera’s restaurant on George Street, and I tried their primavera along with a couple more.
Their version was fettuccine primavera ($16), served with broccoli and fresh mushrooms in a heavy cream sauce topped with tomatoes. The dish was decadent with that familiar and rich fettuccine sauce, and the fresh mushrooms gave it a deep and earthy feel.
A variety of pizzas await patrons at Primavera's restaurant in Linden, New Jersey, photographed on Wednesday, June 4, 2025.Karim Shamsi-Basha
I moved on to pizza since this place was known for its pies, and talk about affordable. Prices range from ($12 to $14) for specialty pizzas and ($8 to $11) for simpler creations.
I tried a slice of plain cheese, and it delivered with a tangy tomato sauce and plenty of yummy cheese on top. The dough was soft and crispy on the edges. Next, I had pasta with vodka sauce (Marinara, cream and a splash of vodka). This dish was flavorful and not too heavy, unlike some I have experienced in the past. The vodka flavor was fairly loud, which I didn’t really mind!
Lastly, I tried the eggplant, roasted peppers and mozzarella sandwich. The eggplants were a tad soggy, but the roasted peppers and mozzarella made up for it with a succulent taste.
They have much more on the menu, like several salads starting at ($5). Baked dishes are around ($10), subs are ($8.95), and burgers start at ($7.97). The wraps and pitas are around ($11).
If you’re near Linden, New Jersey, stop by Primavera’s restaurant and give it a try. Let me know what you get and how you liked it.
For Italian in North Jersey, you should try Puzo’s Family Restaurant in North Haledon. Pizzas start at ($10), and they go from plain cheese to the fancier white pie with ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan cheese for ($14). Like many Italian joints, they have the grandma pizza with fresh mozzarella, tomato sauce and marinara and garlic. But they also have the great grandma pizza! This one comes with all the grandma pizza toppings plus roasted peppers!
They should make a great, great grandma pizza. What would be that special topping? Email me your suggestions, and I’ll let the owner know!
In South Jersey, you ought to visit Albertino’s Italian restaurant. Prices range from ($10 to $18), but on Wednesday nights, pasta is served tableside from a Pecorino Romano cheese wheel. They also have a food truck that you can book for special events.
Until next week, happy eating!
Stories by Karim Shamsi-Basha
Karim Shamsi-Basha may be reached at kshamsi-basha@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter & Instagram.
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